VIDEO: Audi RS8 before the flames
Go to the jump to see the video of the Audi RS8 running the 'Ring'
We recently told you about a horrible incident on the 'Ring involving a very fast, very beautiful Audi RS8 being burned to the ground. Now we can give you the video of the V10 beast in testing just prior to the crash. Hearing the wonderful growl of the 500+ hp Lamborghini-sourced V10 makes the outcome even more sad. According to spy shooter extraordinaire Hans Lehmann, the fire was not caused by a crash, and the driver was able to escape harm. You can see the pictures of the wreckage here. The video of the RS8 in testing is available after the jump.
[Source: YouTube]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
bgdc 7:37PM (4/10/2007)
Purdy.
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Ken 7:52PM (4/10/2007)
I want one!
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HotRodzNKustoms 8:05PM (4/10/2007)
It's nice but not 6 digit nice as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather have a Corvette Z06 and a Cadillac CTS-V or something along those lines for that money.
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garlinski 8:59PM (4/10/2007)
RIP... That is one sick ride!
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John 8:55PM (4/10/2007)
Interesting - it even looks heavy. I wouldn't mind having one, but it doesn't look like it belongs anywhere. It is big and heavy, and probably fast. I don't want a car that handles like that, too much work to control it. RS4 would be a more fun car, especially for the money. I love Audi, but again there is just no market for this. RS6 is bad ass too, but 8 is too much - what demographic are they going for?
If I were rich, I would have sports cars and luxury cars, but not a compromise car like this.
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Eoot 9:49PM (4/10/2007)
I was really hoping it was going to be video of the new diesel engine.
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fahnlanders 9:19PM (4/10/2007)
Cadillac CTS-V?
I am not saying that the caddy is not a nice car, but to compare it even closely to an RS8 just does not seem right. It isn't even in the same ballpark, or league for that matter. The build quality is far and above the GM products you mentioned.
The ZO6 is an incredible car for the money, but when I sat in it it felt really cheap. Now granted, it's all about the motor in the Z06 but I wish they would do something about the horrible materials in the interior. :-(
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bgdc 9:20PM (4/10/2007)
John wrote "I don't want a car that handles like that, too much work to control it. RS4 would be a more fun car,"
Well, that's good for a laugh. Someone just said they'd take a 4000 lbs RS4 over a 3500 lbs R8 - maybe 3700 for the RS8. Too much work to control a more powerful, lighter car with the same style of drivetrain? Huh?
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/112_0702_audi_r8_porsche_911/specs.html
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0608_2006_audi_rs4_vs_2006_cadillac_cts_v/specifications.html
Sorry but the RS8 or even basic R8 will dance all over the portly RS4. There's a 10 mph difference through the quarter. In the slalom most tests show a mid to high .80gs run with the RS4 while the R8 is over .90g consistently.
The market they're going for: Porsche 911 Turbo.
There's no contest.
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Andrew 9:28PM (4/10/2007)
@#4
you think the RS8 is going to be heavier than an RS4? are you NUTS??? a regular R8 uses the same engine as the RS4 and is something like 1/2 second quicker 0-60, so i can only imagine what it's like with that V10 in there.
the R8 (and RS8) are not compromise cars.. they are more on the order of porsches - performance cars you could just as easily use as daily drivers.
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Bob-o 9:23PM (4/10/2007)
"RS4 would be a more fun car, especially for the money."
How so? The RS4 weighs in at 2 tons. The R8 is 500 lbs lighter, has better weight distribution and has a lower polar moment of inertia.
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Michael 9:27PM (4/10/2007)
Glorious sounds, a beautiful car. I hope Audi has the cojones to drop the V10 in a production version - to hell with Lambo.
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englma03 10:07PM (4/10/2007)
It sounds like someone thinks the RS8 is based on the A8, not the R8... This is not a luxo-barge meets sports car. ...although I can understand how their nomenclature is going to get confusing.
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Keiko Matsumoto 11:41PM (4/10/2007)
Has anyone seen this site for car insurance?
http://CarInsuranceDaddy.com
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Jason 12:20AM (4/11/2007)
That car is incredible. I saw an R8 on the interstate and it's beautiful in person. To me it's everything a Porsche is not and I love it for that reason. But to clean up the sides and add a V-10, that buries a 911 Turbo.
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Nick 2:36AM (4/11/2007)
The fire was probably due to the fine VW electricals. LOLOLOLLOLOL. Long live German quality control!
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nagmashot 3:28AM (4/11/2007)
#15 ... it was a pre production testmule... many testmule did not survive the Ring ... Subaru WRX STI Prototype is a example that was killed by the Ring.. if not a spy photograph would have shoot the burning R8 no one would have notice it... I have seen many burned down cars in person and on video... from Italian stalion over German Kraut to US Corvette Muscle Z06 and japanese rice cocker..
Corvette catch fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvUC4J8JVac
at the 2003 24h race on the Ring the Skyline R34 GT-R from Team Falken catched fire... it only survived because during a race are guards all around the track ... leaking oil pipe... japanese quality control is not better than german
stupid ricer comment ...
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transporteur 3:41AM (4/11/2007)
Jezuz... what's with all that "I'd rather have a CTS-V" crap around here?!? Be it a BMW M3 or and Audi R8 and that US bias rears it's head time and again...
Listen carefully, I will zay thees only once: any German made car will be better than a similarly priced US one; no matter what criteria u base the comparison on. I know, I drive both - and far prefer my 10 year old BMW 735i or 15 year old 325iX to my 5 year old Chrysler junk.
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Nick 4:40AM (4/11/2007)
Except when your BMW fails to start because of its crappy German electricals! LOLOLOLOL- German engineering my butt!
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nagmashot 5:55AM (4/11/2007)
Nick I bet you drive a Civic... according to europen break down statistics the most reasons for a Civic break down are..electric failures :-p
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Andrew L. 8:52AM (4/11/2007)
transporteur, we both know that's not true. Take the Corvette Z06. What German car is going to be better than a Corvette at 45-50 grand?
I'm an M3 owner, and even I won't make such a ridiculous claim.
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